Chicago Blackhawks Signed Alexander Salak

The Chicago Blackhawks signed former Rochester Americans goalie Alexander Salak to a two year one way contract worth approximately $1.2 million. It’s still possible Salak will play in the American Hockey League on a one way contract but it means he’ll be paid NHL cash if he does.

Yes, this news is about a month old but someone asked me over the weekend where Salak was playing so I decided to take a minute to post.

Last season Salak played for Farjestad BK in the Swedish Elite League. He ranked second in the league with a 1.97 goals against average and a .926 save percentage. When he played for the Amerks during the 2009-2010 season he was a fan favorite with his Dominik Hasek style of play. Teams quickly seemed to figure him out and his stats went downhill thanks to the Florida Panthers not providing him with a full time goalie coach (at least in my opinion).

Salak had been loaned to Farjestad BK of the Swedish Elite League for the 2010-11 season by the Florida Panthers before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on February 9, 2011. The Panthers had also sent Michael Frolik to the Blackhawks in exchange for Jack Skille, Hugh Jessiman and David Pecan. There was little room in the Panthers system since Jacob Markstrom is considered the “goalie of the future” for the Panthers.